The madness begins this weekend - we are going to our first extended family Christmas celebration. Yes, the first. There will be two more. It's this time of year that seems the greatest contradiction to me - Even while we try to remain focused on the reason for the season I feel inundated with tasks: shopping, traveling, donating, preparing meals & cookies, decorating - and continuing with all the things I'm supposed to do - teaching, exercising, keeping the house somewhat clutter-free (which I am currently failing miserably). There's also the looming threat of the flu bug which has destroyed Christmas's in the past.

And today, as we pack for leaving to go to my parents' house, we are even rushing a bit through our Jesse Tree readings. Because I'll be gone until Sunday, I'm putting the next three days symbols and readings together. I hesitated doing this, but I'd rather read ahead and put the symbols on the tree than coming home on Sunday and catch up.

The first reading today really struck me - in Genesis 22:1 reads "God put Abraham to the test."

Oh my!

I think too many people forget that God really does test us - forgotten because many deny the fact that God is greater than we are. We are here to praise Him, to bring Him glory through our words and actions. He needs Christians in this failing world to bring about His plans. And yes, He will use our lives to do that. To someone not grounded in their faith, being used by God sounds horrible. But think about it in a different way...

You are the owner of a very successful business and there are people in the mail room who are coming to work late, using the office supplies for their personal use, not caring for their work space, and suffering under the cruelty of gossip and anger. You want your company to succeed and without a properly run mail room, the entire company is suffering. In order to find a solution, you need an ally in 'the inside' and find that person by testing the employees to find the most trustworthy. Once you know who you can depend on, you put greater responsibilities on that person, give them a leadership position, a higher salary.

Testing is necessary. In school, we prepare for tests by studying. In life, we can prepare for tests by steeping our minds and hearts in God's Word and the writings of Saints and other Christians who have passed their tests.

Our tests may be nothing like Abraham's, but we will be tested. Never doubt that! God will put great obstacles in our paths and see how we manage. Do we turn to him? or do we try to leap over the hindrance alone? It's anyone's guess what our tests will be. There is evil in the world, but I truly believe that God will use these evils to make us more holy. Think back to times when the entire world came crashing in on you...while those moments are exhausting and bring a sense of desperate loneliness as we are in them, can you now find a gift from that time?

If you can't find a slice of joy from those difficulties, I encourage you to spend more time in prayer and in scripture. Perhaps the gift is still on its way. What better time to receive a gift from God than during the Christmas season?

Enjoy the readings; they will delight the soul.


Friday
Reading: Gen 22:1-19
Symbol: Ram
Event: Offering of Isaac

Saturday
Reading: Gen 27:41-28:22
Symbol: Ladder
Event: Assurance of the Promise

Sunday
Reading: Gen 37, 39:1-50:21
Symbol: Sack of Grain or Coat
Event: God's Providence